Circa 1924 - Mount Rainier stands boldly above thousands of acres of virgin timber, long since vanished. In foreground is a flume which carried water to Electron plant of Puget Sound Power and Light Co. from headwaters of Puyallup River. less

Circa 1924 - Mount Rainier stands boldly above thousands of acres of virgin timber, long since vanished. In foreground is a flume which carried water to Electron plant of Puget Sound Power and Light Co. from ... more

A 6-cylinder deluxe sedan at the entrance to Rainier National Park in May 1925.

A 6-cylinder deluxe sedan at the entrance to Rainier National Park in May 1925.

Photo: P-I File

A 6-cylinder deluxe sedan at the entrance to Rainier National Park... Photo-803140.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 9 of 94

July 1929: A photo diagram of the route taken by six daring climbers before their fatal plunge at the 13,000-foot level on their return trip from the summit. The party stayed all night at Camp Muir at the 10,000-foot level before beginning the perilous ascent. less

July 1929: A photo diagram of the route taken by six daring climbers before their fatal plunge at the 13,000-foot level on their return trip from the summit. The party stayed all night at Camp Muir at the ... more

Photo: P-I File

July 1929: A photo diagram of the route taken by six daring... Photo-803175.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 10 of 94

A search party at Paradise in Mount Rainier in July of 1929.

A search party at Paradise in Mount Rainier in July of 1929.

Photo: P-I File

A search party at Paradise in Mount Rainier in July of 1929. Photo-814933.6815 - seattlepi.com

A ribbon across the south portal of a 500-foot tunnel was cut to open the East Side road on Mount Rainier in June 1940, while crowds of visitors looked on. Holding the scissors is O.A. Tomlinson, then park superintendent, while Fred Norman of Raymond, president of the Southwest Washinton Good Roads Association, holds the Ribbon. less

A ribbon across the south portal of a 500-foot tunnel was cut to open the East Side road on Mount Rainier in June 1940, while crowds of visitors looked on. Holding the scissors is O.A. Tomlinson, then park ... more

Photo: P-I File

A ribbon across the south portal of a 500-foot tunnel was cut to... Photo-803137.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 19 of 94

Snow on Mt. Rainier in August 1941.

Snow on Mt. Rainier in August 1941.

Photo: P-I File

Snow on Mt. Rainier in August 1941. Photo-802957.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 20 of 94

Paradise Valley, showing Paradise Inn and other structures in June 1930. The center building is the Guide service house; the building at the left is the service building for Paradise Camp. The southern exposure of the Mountain is shown, Nisqually Glacier in the foreground. (Photo by Rainier National Park Co.) less

Paradise Valley, showing Paradise Inn and other structures in June 1930. The center building is the Guide service house; the building at the left is the service building for Paradise Camp. The southern exposure ... more

1947 - C-82 transport of 12th Air Force, McChord Field, loaded with 42 fully equipped infantry men of Second Infantry Division, passes Mount Rainier on a practice flight before leaving for winter maneuvers in Alaska's Big Delta area. (Photo by U.S. Army Air Forces). less

1947 - C-82 transport of 12th Air Force, McChord Field, loaded with 42 fully equipped infantry men of Second Infantry Division, passes Mount Rainier on a practice flight before leaving for winter maneuvers in ... more

The southwest slopes of Mount Rainier and the southeast edge of South Tahoma glacier (circle) where a wreckage believed to be that of a missing marine transport plane was sighted in July 1947. When the plane disappeared in December 1946, all but the highest peaks were snow-covered. (Photo by U.S. Navy) less

The southwest slopes of Mount Rainier and the southeast edge of South Tahoma glacier (circle) where a wreckage believed to be that of a missing marine transport plane was sighted in July 1947. When the plane ... more

October 1952: All that was left of the famous Nisqually River bridge after a twenty-foot wall of water tore out the main span. The destructive torrent was released with the crumbling of a natural glacial dam in the Nisqually glacier on Mount Rainier, three-quarters of a mile above the bridge. (Photo by Rainier National Park Co.) less

October 1952: All that was left of the famous Nisqually River bridge after a twenty-foot wall of water tore out the main span. The destructive torrent was released with the crumbling of a natural glacial dam in ... more

Photo: P-I File

October 1952: All that was left of the famous Nisqually River... Photo-803168.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 35 of 94

Original caption: Thanks to the chair lifts the skiers left behind, you can do your summer mountain climbing with very little foot work. (Photo by Winfield Brown).

Original caption: Thanks to the chair lifts the skiers left behind, you can do your summer mountain climbing with very little foot work. (Photo by Winfield Brown).

Photo: P-I File

Original caption: Thanks to the chair lifts the skiers left behind,... Photo-802967.6815 - seattlepi.com

A view of Paradise Inn in Rainier National Park in 1954. (Photo by Rainier National Park Co.)

A view of Paradise Inn in Rainier National Park in 1954. (Photo by Rainier National Park Co.)

Photo: P-I File

A view of Paradise Inn in Rainier National Park in 1954. (Photo by... Photo-802988.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 38 of 94

Paradise Inn with the Tatoosh range in background in 1955.

Paradise Inn with the Tatoosh range in background in 1955.

Photo: P-I File

Paradise Inn with the Tatoosh range in background in 1955. Photo-803125.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 39 of 94

This snow-shrouded arch and the high walls of snow on the Chinook Pass Highway mark the summit of the pass and the east entrance to Mount Rainier National Park in 1956. (Hack Miller/P-I)

This snow-shrouded arch and the high walls of snow on the Chinook Pass Highway mark the summit of the pass and the east entrance to Mount Rainier National Park in 1956. (Hack Miller/P-I)

Photo: P-I File

This snow-shrouded arch and the high walls of snow on the Chinook... Photo-802979.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 40 of 94

September 1956: The Rev. Earle Johnson hands money to U.S. Commissioner Earl Clifford at Longmire after he and Don Richardson (left) were fined $25 each for an unauthorized attempt to climb Mount Rainier, which brought rescue parties to their aid. (John 'Hack' Miller/P-I) less

September 1956: The Rev. Earle Johnson hands money to U.S. Commissioner Earl Clifford at Longmire after he and Don Richardson (left) were fined $25 each for an unauthorized attempt to climb Mount Rainier, which ... more

October 1965: This tunnel, high above a valley, is a scene on the Stevens Canyon Highway on the south slope of Mount Rainier. This highway, completed in 1957, makes possible an easy one-day drive around Mount Rainier. less

October 1965: This tunnel, high above a valley, is a scene on the Stevens Canyon Highway on the south slope of Mount Rainier. This highway, completed in 1957, makes possible an easy one-day drive around Mount ... more

Photo: P-I File

October 1965: This tunnel, high above a valley, is a scene on the... Photo-803152.6815 - seattlepi.com

Image 49 of 94

Patty Wernick of Tacoma posed for a picture with Mount Rainier in 1968. (Tom Brownell)

Patty Wernick of Tacoma posed for a picture with Mount Rainier in 1968. (Tom Brownell)

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) climbing guide Stuart Robertson rest-steps his way up Mt. Rainier's east face soon after sunrise on Wednesday, August 23, 2006. A typical summit trip led by RMI leaves Camp Muir at about 1 a.m. and reaches the top around 8 a.m. (MIKE KANE/P-I) less

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) climbing guide Stuart Robertson rest-steps his way up Mt. Rainier's east face soon after sunrise on Wednesday, August 23, 2006. A typical summit trip led by RMI leaves Camp ... more

Kathi Acosta and Larry Shifflette, both from Eatonville, wander through colorful fall foliage during a hike up to Pinnacle Saddle in Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday, September 28, 2003. (Joshua Trujillo / P-I) less

Kathi Acosta and Larry Shifflette, both from Eatonville, wander through colorful fall foliage during a hike up to Pinnacle Saddle in Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday, September 28, 2003. (Joshua Trujillo / ... more

It appears a UFO is flying over the southern slopes of Mount Rainier as seen from Vashon Island on Jan. 22, 2007. The craft, sporting an orange racing stripe and whispy condensation trail is actually a small lenticular cloud (altocumulus standing lenticular) commonly formed when damp winds pass over the crest of high obstacles, such as mountains, and form the wind into waves in the atmosphere. The clouds materialize at the crests of those waves like white caps on a stormy sea. (Mike Urban/P-I) less

It appears a UFO is flying over the southern slopes of Mount Rainier as seen from Vashon Island on Jan. 22, 2007. The craft, sporting an orange racing stripe and whispy condensation trail is actually a small ... more

Photo: P-I File

It appears a UFO is flying over the southern slopes of Mount... Photo-814931.6815 - seattlepi.com